I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Words to Console, Encourage, and Upbuild--Oct. 15, 2019



I give thanks to your holy name, O God,
and sing your praises.
Help me listen to the word that you speak
through your prophets,
that I may speak encouragement and consolation
for the upbuilding of others.
Let the words be not mine, but those of your Spirit
speaking through me.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 123; 146; 30; 86
Jer. 36:27-37:2
1 Cor. 14:1-12
Matt. 10:16-23

Selected Verses
Ps. 30:4
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones,
          and give thanks to his holy name.

Jer. 37:2
But neither [King Zedekiah] nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.

1 Cor. 14:3
On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 

Matt. 10:19-20
“…When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  …”  [Jesus, to the twelve disciples]

No comments:

Post a Comment